Dr. Thomas King

Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Order of Canada

Companion of the Order of Canada
Awarded on: 2020-10-21
Invested on: 2023-06-14
Thomas King, C.C. Guelph, Ontario With his legendary humour and grace, Thomas King exposes the hard truths of the injustices of the Indigenous peoples of North America. Through an imaginative and thought-provoking range of media, including his award-winning international best-seller, The Inconvenient Indian, this revered storyteller and activist challenges stereotypes and cultural assumptions, and furthers dialogue and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. This visionary’s prolific and groundbreaking work continues to enrich our country’s culture, and has changed our perception of Canadian history. This is a promotion within the Order.
Member of the Order of Canada
Awarded on: 2004-05-13
Invested on: 2004-12-10
Through his writing, Thomas King has demonstrated the power of stories and the vitality of Aboriginal culture. He has drawn from the oral traditions, myths and folklore of First Nations people, and used his formidable wit to explore the social, economic and political dimensions of the modern Aboriginal experience. Currently professor of English at the University of Guelph, he also created and wrote the popular radio program Dead Dog Comedy Hour. As a testament to his standing as an important voice in Canadian literature, he was chosen to deliver the prestigious Massey Lectures in 2003.